This tutorial is also available in French ➔

LH differential oil seal change on automatic Austin Mini gearbox

Vehicle ➔ Mini 1000 year 1991 automatic gearbox

Difficulty ➔ Medium

Time ➔ 2 hours

Summary

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This tutorial concerns the Mini with an automatic gearbox. For information, the manual gearbox has the same differential oil seals as the automatic gearbox (ADU5738) but the differential side covers are different. The procedure for changing the seals remains the same.

The left oil seal is located to the left of the differential when you are sitting in the driver's seat.

Over time, the differential oil seals degrade and the Mini starts to leak oil. This will greatly compromise its chances of passing the next MOT test. It's time to change them.

Required Tools

Drain the engine and gearbox (➔ see the tutorial ''Engine + automatic gearbox oil change'' Op 02 to 04).

Op 02

Remove the LH front wheel :
• Apply the handbrake.
• Slightly loosen the 4 wheel nuts. Use the 11/16'' socket.
• Lift the wheel. Use the jack.
• Fit jack stands or rigid chocks to guarantee your safety.
• Remove the 4 wheel nuts. Unscrew by hand.
• Remove the wheel. Pull by hand.

Before working under the vehicle, make sure to secure it properly with jack stands or rigid chocks. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. It is too dangerous.

Remove the swivel hub

Op 03

Remove the track rod end fixing nut. Use the 9/16'' socket.

Op 04

Pull off the track rod end from the steering arm. Use the ball joint puller.

Track rod end on the steering arm on Austin Mini

Track rod end detached from the steering arm

Op 05

Remove the upper ball joint fixing nut and its washer. Use the 11/16'' socket.

Locate the swivel hub lower ball joint on Austin Mini

Remove the nut and the washer from the lower ball joint

Op 06

Pull off the upper ball joint. Use the ball joint puller.

swivel hub upper ball joint on Austin Mini

Pull off the swivel hub upper ball joint

Op 07

Remove the lower ball joint fixing nut and its washer. Use the 11/16'' socket.

Localiser la rotule inférieure de pivot sur Austin Mini

Retirer l'écrou et la rondelle de rotule inférieure

Op 08

Pull off the lower ball joint. Use the ball joint puller.

swivel hub lower ball joint on Austin Mini

Pull off the swivel hub lower ball joint

Op 09

Detach the ball joints from the suspension arms and suspend the swivel hub. Use a piece of string or wire.

Be careful not to stretch or damage the brake hose.

Detach the ball joints from suspension arms

Remove the oil seal

Op 10

Detach the pot joint from the gearbox :
• Slide the removing tool between the pot joint and the gearbox casing (1st photo).
• Tap the removing tool with the hammer until the pot joint comes loose (2nd photo).

The pot joint is only held in place by a metal clip. It will resist as the removing tool advances and it will suddenly come loose.

If you don't have a removing tool, you can detach the pot joint with 2 tire levers by levering between the pot joint and the gearbox. Position the 2 tire levers symmetrically on either side of the pot joint. If you only use one tire lever or if you are not perfectly symmetrical, the pot joint will be slightly skewed, it will lock and it will not come out.

Slide the removing tool between the pot joint and the gearbox casing

LH pot joint detached from the gearbox on Austin Mini automatic

Op 11

Extract the pot joint from the gearbox. Pull sideways by hand.
Suspend the pot joint to clear access to the oil seal. Use a piece of string.

Extract pot joint from the gearbox on Austin Mini

LH pot joint removed from the gearbox on Austin Mini automatic

Op 12

Remove the oil seal. Use a flathead screwdriver.

Be careful not to scratch the aluminum casing of the differential with the screwdriver.

Remove the differential output shaft oil seal Austin Mini

Differential output shaft oil seal removed

Differential without output shaft oil seal

Fit the oil seal

Op 13

Oil or grease the lip of the new oil seal (ADU5738).

Op 14

Fit the new oil seal. Use a 34 mm socket and tap with a hammer.

The 34 mm socket allows you to press evenly over the entire surface of the seal. You can hit the socket with the hammer without risk of damaging the seal.

Fit the new oil seal on the differential housing

Push the differential oil seal into its housing

Op 15

Fit the pot joint in its housing. Push firmly by hand.

Recenter the clip in its groove before engaging the pot joint on the splined shaft.

Be careful not to damage the lip of the oil seal when you engage the pot joint, otherwise all your efforts to stop oil leaks will be reduced to nothing.

You will hear a very slight ''click'' when the pot joint is locked (the clip will then have found its place).

Fit the pot joint in its housing on Austin Mini

Fit the swivel hub

Op 16

Fit the 2 ball joints on the suspension arms.

Ball joints fitted on the suspension arms

Op 17

Fit a new spring washer (GFK1127) and screw on the lower ball joint fixing nut (GFK3214). Use an 11/16'' socket.
Tighten to a torque of 52 mN. Use a torque wrench.

Fit on upper ball joint nut on Austin Mini

Op 18

Fit a new spring washer (GFK1127) and screw on the upper ball joint fixing nut (GFK3214). Use an 11/16'' socket.
Tighten to a torque of 52 mN. Use a torque wrench.

Positionner l'écrou de rotule supérieure sur Austin Mini

Op 19

Grease the 2 ball joints. Use a grease gun.

While the track rod end is still separated from the steering arm, take the opportunity to grease the ball joints. It's much easier.

Do not hesitate to rotate the swivel hub so that the grease can penetrate and be well distributed in the ball joints.

Grease the upper ball joint on Austin Mini

Op 20

Clean the brake disc. Remove any traces of grease. Use brake cleaner and a cloth.

Op 21

Fit the axis of the track rod end in the steering arm.
Screw on the track rod end nut (GFK3323). Use the 9/16'' socket.
Tighten the nut to a torque of 30 mN. Use the torque wrench.

Engager l'axe de la rotule dans le bras de direction

Final actions

Op 22

Fit the RH front wheel :
• Fit the wheel on the drive flange.
• Screw on the 4 nuts. Use the 11/16'' socket.
• Lower the Mini to the ground. Remove the jack stands.
• Tighten the 4 nuts to the torque corresponding to the type of rim. Use the torque wrench.

The tightening torque of the wheel nuts is :
• 63 mN for steel rims.
• 50 mN for alloy rims.

Op 23

Add oil to the engine and gearbox (➔ see the tutorial ''Engine + automatic gearbox oil change'' Op 16 to 21).

The End

The new LH differential oil seal is installed. There will no longer be any traces of oil in the parking space. Well done!
Please feel free to ask a question or to write a comment at the bottom of the page if you wish.